The new Avichai Adraee? Meet the IDF's Turkish Spokesperson

The IDF has launched a new account for the IDF Spokesperson in Turkish on X, and it posted its first explanatory video today (Tuesday).

Watch (Turkish):

The account, which was created in December 2024 in the wake of the fall of the Bashar Assad regime to Sunni rebel forces commanded by Ahmad "Julani" a-Sharaa, is part of the Israeli security establishment's efforts to counter what they see as an emerging Turkish threat, given Turkey's open backing of the rebels and involvement in their logistical support in fighting Assad.

Turkey has been increasingly hostile to Israel ever since October 7. The country and especially its President Erdogan have been vocally in support of Hamas despite the atrocities of October 7. In retaliation for what Turkey called "war crimes" in Gaza, the country decided to entirely end all trade with Israel, and even join with South Africa's "genocide" lawsuit against Israel in the Hague.

However, the fall of Syria to pro-Turkish forces means that Turkey now menaces Israel's north, possibly directly and certainly indirectly. Once a military friend and ally relative to other countries in the region, this NATO member is now considered a direct threat to Israeli interests and its allies in the region such as the Kurds.

In order to counter Turkish propaganda efforts as well as work covertly against them, the IDF has enlisted Major Arye Sharuz Shalicar, a German-Iranian-Israeli political scientist with experience in both hip-hop culture and scholarship.

Based on his initial video, Sharuz seems to aim to emulate the style of IDF Spokesperson in Arabic Avichai Adraee, who uses a much more personable, friendly, and active method of engaging his audience compared to the more restrained and carefully timed speaking approach of outgoing IDF Spokesperson for Hebrew and English, Daniel Hagari.

Adraee has long since built a reputation for being a reliable and influential spokesperson for the IDF, to the point that during the recent Lebanese ground operation, more Lebanese heeded his word than Hezbolah. Time will tell is Sharuz has the same effect for his Turkish audience.

The IDF announced that the Turkish channels will be on both X and Telegram:

"Against the backdrop of regional developments, the IDF Spokesperson officially launched official digital platforms in the Turkish language this evening.

"The accounts were opened on the leading networks X (formerly Twitter) and Telegram in Turkey.

"With the launch of the new platforms, the IDF Spokesperson will operate accounts in seven languages: Hebrew, English, Arabic, French, Spanish, Persian, and Turkish.

"The official accounts have millions of followers and receive extensive exposure from diverse audiences. The accounts are operated by Turkish-speaking reservists with Turkish as their native language."